He hadn't seen his parents since the day he was presumed dead.
Did they know he was alive? Did they care?
Were they still terrible people?
Most definitely, he thought. No way had they changed. Yes, social reform was in effect, but they were still wealthy and privileged like they'd always been. They were still in high standing. Social reform does not equal personality change in people like them.
They were probably still living posh lives in that giant mansion, priding themselves on Stelly's success at becoming royalty. Still looking down on people they view as less-than. Feeling no remorse about Grey Terminal even to this day.
It would be one thing to simply be in the same town as them. That he could deal with. But of course, things involving them could never be easy.
Dragon had called some time before their arrival and informed Sabo that Outlook III and Didit were involved in this case. They also were looking for the suspect, for whatever reason. Probably to protect their current standing. What's worse, information had been leaked that Sabo - their Sabo - was not only alive, but was going to be arriving at the Kingdom's port to assist in the mission. They would be there waiting.
Dammit, Stelly! It was you who told them, wasn't it? I wouldn't be surprised if you're the one we're looking for. The parents are probably just involved in the case to protect you and cover up whatever you're doing.
Stelly was the king in name only. He was a coward and a knucklehead who didn't know the first thing about running a country. But like everything else there, it was all about appearances.
"It'll be okay," Ami assured Sabo again as they drew near. "I'll be there with you in this. We all will."
She hated these people before ever meeting them. How could anyone treat their own son the way they did? She promised to be there with Sabo. She did not, however, promise to be nice or polite.
Sabo wasn't a bitter person by nature. It's not like he hated his parents or anything; he just didn't want to see them or have anything to do with them. But if nothing else, at least this would be the first time he'd be in his hometown, around his family, with someone who genuinely loves him. He tried focusing on that in order to keep his sanity.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
The ship approached the dock at High Town.
As expected, Outlook and Didit were standing there waiting, arms crossed.
The crew got off and secured the ship. The plan was for the others to get a head start on the search on their own. There was no knowing how much time this reunion would take.
Sabo took a deep breath before descending down the steps, with Ami by his side. A mix of emotions stirred in him at the sight of his parents and he couldn't explain it. All he knew was that not returning as a child was the best decision he could've made.
It was unbelievable: his parents had the exact same look of disappointment on their faces as they did back then. The only difference was that they had aged significantly.
"Well, well. If it isn't our stupid son," Outlook said.
"Nice to see you too, 'Dad,'" he replied sarcastically.
The old man gave a look of disgust to Ami, who was wearing a gothic dress and tall heeled boots.
"It seems you at least listened to one thing we told you. But honestly, out of all the princesses in the world, Ami Kurta? This psychotic trash?!"
"Hey!" Sabo shouted, immediately fuming. "Say whatever you want about me, I don't care. But you will NOT-"
"Quick question," Ami cut in, in an effort to calm him down a bit. She looked to the side and motioned towards the giant rocks at the bottom of the ledge behind them. "If someone were to be pushed down there and land on those rocks really hard, do you think they'd live?"
Sabo saw she was going into her classic acting mode. This was sure to be entertaining.
"What...? Why would you ask that?" Didit replied, visibly frightened.
"No reason."
The old woman gasped and moved further away from the edge.
"Sabo, how could you associate yourself with such a dangerous person?" she asked. "I heard she's a red-eyed maniac who once put an entire group of people in the hospital during a temper tantrum!"
"Yep," Ami replied, smirking while placing a hand on her hip, and using the other to point slightly upwards with a ribbon of sand swirling around her finger. "Starting with the rich families."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
There they were. Sitting in the living room of Sabo's childhood house. Of all places, why did they have to have their meeting there?
"Before we begin, let's get one thing straight," Outlook said coldly, looking at Sabo. "If anyone asks, you are not our son. We are merely working together on business, temporarily."
"That's real nice, 'Dad.' But sure. It's not like I want to be associated with you guys either."
"Ungrateful brat! We brought you into this world!"
"Our efforts were wasted on you…" Didit mumbled.
"I'm surprised Stelly isn't here," Sabo said, ignoring their comments. "I would've thought he'd be trying to make headlines with this case."
"He's busy, dear," Didit said condescendingly. "He was a country to run, after all. Something you'd never understand."
"Where's that shrew of a girlfriend of yours, anyway?" Outlook asked.
"Watch it," Sabo said sternly. "She'll be here soon. She needed to run back to the ship to grab some things."
"It's okay, I'm here," Ami announced, coming down from the stairs behind them.
"H-how did- how long have you been here? And where were you?!" Didit asked, wide-eyed. Not even Sabo knew that she'd snuck in.
"I was in your bedroom. You have a lot of things in there."
She gave a sinister smirk and Didit was left open-mouthed and terrified.
Oddly enough, Didit wasn't worried that Ami stole anything. No, this was clearly sabotage. What did she poison? What traps did she lay?
"You- what did you do?! Answer me!"
Little did she know that this was how Ami was. Using fear tactics to mess with them.
Sabo rested his head in his hands to hide his silent laughter. Boy did he love that girl.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
It would be like old times. Sabo and Ami would quietly infiltrate places that might have intel, and they would pick locks with Ami's chain abilities.
Outlook and Didit would apparently be using their influence to try to get information out of people. They'd bribe them if they had to.
Whatever. As long as they stayed out of each other's way it was fine. That was the deal.
In their searches, Sabo and Ami found that the suspect was indeed there in the Goa Kingdom recently and likely hadn't left. Sabo still suspected Stelly, who he hadn't even seen since he got there, but was still trying to be open to other possibilities. It was too soon to say.
As nostalgic as the whole thing felt in a sense, being on a Revolutionary mission again, the situation with his parents was weighing him down. Those two finally discussed it when they were alone one night, unable to sleep.
"I just can't believe they haven't changed at all."
"It has nothing to do with you. They're just messed up people. Nothing you could've ever done or said would've changed that."
"Maybe I was just… I don't know, hoping for a little gladness and relief on their end, finding that their son wasn't dead."
"I don't think they're capable of those kinds of emotions."
"Yeah, you're probably right."
"How are you holding up, though?"
"I'm fine. Doesn't matter to me."
"Lies."
He sighed.
"Despite everything, they're still my parents; as much as I hate saying that. I guess… for some insane reason, in a way I still kinda want their approval. Pretty stupid, huh?" He gave her his signature grin.
"Not stupid at all."
He took her hand into his.
"But then again, parents in general have never really liked me anyway, heh. Just ask Dadan."
"I'm sure mine would adore you. But we'll cross that bridge when we get there."
Hours passed and Sabo had dozed off.
Ami held her sleeping beau all night, wide awake and tense, knowing what she would soon have to do.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Why hadn't he shown his face yet?
It was time to act.
Sabo successfully infiltrated the palace and was making his way to Stelly's living quarters.
As expected, his advisors were in the office doing all of the actual work. Stelly was sitting on a couch in a lounging area, reading a newspaper and sipping wine.
When he stood up, Sabo came up from behind and grabbed him by the collar, pushing him against the wall.
"B-brother?! What are you doing here?" he asked in a panic.
"Save the act," Sabo said. "I know it's you."
"Me? What are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb! You're the one who's trying to reinstate old policies, aren't you? Why would you want to bring the Celestial Dragons back?! Even you can't be that vindictive."
"What?! No! I wouldn't do that! Besides, I don't care about other nobles. The Celestial Dragons would take away my spotlight. As long as I get to be the ruler of the world someday, I don't care what happens to anyone else."
Sabo released his grip. It's true that Stelly didn't care about anyone but himself, but still…
"Mother and Father were right," the cowardly man murmured. "You always were a fool."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Outlook was working at his desk late at night, long after the rest of town had gone to sleep. Then someone walked into his office.
Looks like his plan was going to work.
"Ms. Kurta. Good of you to come. It takes a fool to say no to me."
"It takes an even bigger fool to say yes, but here I am."
"Watch your tone. Don't forget that I have the authority to signal for a buster call."
"I don't need a reminder. Just tell me what you want."
"My real son, Stelly, is very important to me. His image, and mine by extension, are more important than anything. He's the pride and joy of this family. It is essential that he-"
"Dude. I'll give you 10 berries to get to the point."
"If you don't want me to send a buster call to your hometown, you will do as I say. Don't forget that modern buster calls aren't exclusive to islands, so Sunagakure being in a desert means nothing. You will drop this investigation. You will break it off with Sabo. And you will turn yourself in and claim to be the criminal behind the whole thing. I don't ever want to see your face around here again."